HT1550 Startup (and other weird) Issues

[willbird287]

Hey all,

Ive got a HT1550 which recently started acting up. About a week after being re-programmed it has issues starting up. The LED indicator flashes a green light for maybe 300ms every second. The radio will not function at all during that time. After doing this for what seems like an arbitrary time (could be 10 seconds could be 2 minutes) it will boot up and work normally. Sometimes pressing a random key on the keypad will "snap it out of the loop" and start it up...

The clock kept resetting as well, so I checked the internal battery and replaced it since it was low (2.4v)...this prevented the clock from resetting, but its still having startup issues.

Any clues or ideas? I have spoken to other MSS's in the area with no ideas from them..."Never heard of anything like that before" seems to be the consensus.

I also have tried re-writing the codeplug with no luck. It seemed to help for a while (the green led flashes only once), but it started acting up again after about 5 restarts...

Thanks in advance,
--Will

**EDIT**
I should also add that the radio has Firmware: R05.00.03 and Codeplug Version: 03.04 and has been programmed with CPS Version: 06.06.00

[Josh]

Your radio's firmware is considerably old, the clock issue was fixed in a later firmware.

You might want to look at getting the firmware uplifted to current, it may take care of your problems.

-Josh

[willbird287]

Does anyone know if it is possible to upgrade firmware using a RIB less cable? I have a cable with DB9 connector and 4 pins as seen here http://www.wiscomm.com/productimages/htprorblcable.jpg I would imagine i would have to build some kind of adapter or switch?

Heres what Im thinking...Since the "flashing adapter" just grounds pin 12 on the accessory connector (boot control), all I would need to do is connect pin 12 to pin 7 on the accessory connector when i want the flashing adapter to be in the "on" position?...

Can anyone tell me if this should work before I brick my radio?

Thanks,
--Will

[Hightower]

Your radio's firmware is considerably old, the clock issue was fixed in a later firmware.

You might want to look at getting the firmware uplifted to current, it may take care of your problems.

-Josh

Firmware most likely is NOT the problem. He fixed the clock issue by replacing the battery. Even tho the firmware is old, there was never an issue like he's describing caused by firmware. If the firmware was corrupt, then the radio would show a fail code, and refuse to boot.

The radio was programmed a week before the problem showed up. Anyhow, programming or incorrect programming would not cause an issue like described. If the CPS programming was hosed, CPS would :o, bla bla bla bla.

What sounds like is happening is either the flex cable is not seated properly, or, more than likely its the solder connections on the white connector that the case flex inserts into. Seen simular problems like this before, and the white connectors' solder joints needed to be reflowed - problem solved.

Another thing that leads me to believe the white flex connector has bad solder joints, because when you press the keys, that can put just enough pressure on the radios guts to make a good (albet temporary) connection.

Good luck

[willbird287]

What sounds like is happening is either the flex cable is not seated properly, or, more than likely its the solder connections on the white connector that the case flex inserts into. Seen simular problems like this before, and the white connectors' solder joints needed to be reflowed - problem solved.

Thanks hightower! I thought about checking the flex and I tried reseating them, but never thought about the tiny solder connections to the board! Ill have to look more carefully again...

In other news...I just finished building and testing a really simple solution for flashing firmware instead of using all kinds of /\/\ adapters...It took almost 3 hours of information gathering and another 2 hours to design/build...but its working like a champ! As far as I know nothing like this has been built before, and Im happy to report that I successfully updated my firmware on my HT1550 using this cable with no problems!

http://picasaweb.google.com/willbird/Cu ... riesRadios
Here you will find the solution I came up with and how to make it including a step by step with pictures description of what I did.

In the end, I had one cable, with no adapters, and it only cost me $25 for parts including shipping and I was able to update the firmware for my radio! (even though it didn't fix the problem)

[willbird287]

I would like to say that a twisted turn of luck and fate has found and solved this issue.

After I had taken the radio out of the case to try to reflow the solder on the ribbon connectors (no luck fixing the issue), I put it back in the case with the gasket hanging out a bit on one side. I tried to push the gasket back in with a small screw driver so I wouldn't have to pull out the knobs again, and noticed a small surface mount capacitor which looked a bit crooked. Turns out it was loose on one side! I soldered it back, and it appears to be starting up without any problems!

Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions! If this somehow re-appears I will post and keep you guys informed.

--Will